Samuel Girard, COL28. Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty Few defensemen in the NHL could've done more with the surrounding talent Doughty had last year. The 2013 first overall draft pick and Calder Memorial Trophy winner had 45 assists and 20 goals in 48 games during the 2020-21 season. Being down a man on the ice is when a defender's abilities to neutralize opposing attackers and help out the goalie will be called upon more than any other. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. His 107 goals since 2013-14 rank. Building the perfect NHL defenseman - Best skills, attributes Best NHL Defenseman: Points per Game. He and his teammates also struggled defensively, giving up the third-highestshots-against per game(33.4) and sixth-most goals-against per game (3.34). He was second among Isles skaters in short-handed ice time per game (2:14) and takeaways (25), third in ice time per contest (21:03) and fourth with 73 blocked shots. The 23-year-olds will be crucial to the club's push for a playoff berth this season. 1 on 14 of the 20 ballots. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Def. Best 3s Defensive Build Eight of his goals and 17 of his assists were on the power play. Scoring goals is the name of the game in hockey, but it's also important to limit an opponent's offensive opportunities. He led the Stars in playoff scoring with 26 points during their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. February 28, 2022 by Marko Zlomislic. This perk will increase the player's Stick Checking, Def. Barrie is signed for the rest of this year and next for a reasonable $4.5 million. Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. 2) Victor Hedman, Lightning 2020-21 Stats: 9 G, 36 A in 54 GP Hedman has been one of the league's top defensemen, particularly from an offensive standpoint, for Today is all that matters. Awareness and Durability by 6, 3, and 4 points. Nevertheless, Hughes finished thirdamong Canucks scorerswith 41 points in 56 games. He changes the complexion of the Oilers blue line and furthers their bid as a legit Stanley Cup contender. He was also their leading scorer (26 points) in the2020 playoffs. You have to be able to defend," he told me. Recent performance, career offensive numbers and consistency factored into this compilation. Mattias Ekholm, EDM (NEW)38. He does have good defensive ratings otherwise with an 87 in stick checking and 85 in awareness, which may help mitigate his lower rating in shot blocking. Already an ESPN+ subscriber? In other words, they didnt sacrifice either Evan Bouchard or Philip Broberg in the deal, two of their better young defensemen. Ekholm was finally getting paid for a decade of quiet, effective service to the Preds. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad8882951d244e308d463714f1cc5337" );document.getElementById("b90191b810").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If not, oh well youve got to ice a full lineup. However, concerning was his drop in shot percentage from 17.2 during his award-winning season to 11.4 during the 2020-2021 season. Last season for the Binghamton Devils, Okhotyuk had four assists and two goals in 28 games. This perk will increase the player's Off. Hes a fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Bouchard would be my choice. The Def. Theyre a better team now than they were a couple hours ago. Senators land Jakob Chychrun as Coyotes continue to unload This page will look at the best young up-and-coming defensive defensemen in NHL 22, with names like Jett Woo, Kevin Bahl, and Bryce Montgomery all making an appearance. Fantasy Hockey Staff, Stanley Cup Final | Avalanche vs. That includes tallying 68 points in 2017-18, 70 points in 2018-19 and 75 points in 2019-20. While Kukkonen does have good durability (85) and shot power (82 for both), he is a prospect in every sense of the word in that he needs plenty of time to develop. But who are the best shutdown beasts that come to mind for you? His physical skills could improve a little. Favorite additions though are adding practice for your club and a free skate mode when editing/testing different load outs. NHL 21 player ratings: The best defensemen - Gamepur At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young offensive defensemen in NHL 22. Where he could improve is on the defensive end, particularly since he plays a defensive position. The primary role of NHL defensemen is to prevent their opponents from scoring. Thats a down-the-road problem for a team currently out of the playoff picture. For the former, he had nine assists and seven goals in 32 games, and for the latter, he had 23 assists and four goals in 29 games. The Lead Editor at OG, Bruce has been an avid gamer since childhood, owning the NES, SNES, N64, PS one, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Game Boy, GBC, GBA, DS, 3DS, and Switch throughout his life. But that wasnt nearly enough to squeeze in Ekholm which is why Tyson Barrie, the quarterback of the Oilers No. WebWho are the top defensemen in NHL 21. However, his output fell to just 27 points in 56 games last season, the lowest since his 12-point performance in 2007-08. The season before with Cushing Academy, a prep school, he had seven assists in 33 games. Adam Fox, NYR3. Those defensemen log the most ice time among their teammates, including in power-play and short-handed situations. Chychrun is an extremely underrated but extremely good shutdown guy. He followed that up by becoming a finalist last season for theJames Norris Memorial Trophy. Awareness by 4 points each. For defensemen, the parameters were dropped to 90 and 85. 27 viidenmetrinmolo PHI - NHL 2 yr. ago I mean you can be the worst defensive player in the league but if you dominate possession, you prevent much more goals than a good defensive guy who's stuck in his own zone. His mobility and puck-handling skills earned him three Stanley Cup rings and placed him among the league's highest-scoring defensemen. Required fields are marked *. Age: 28Rating: 87Position: Left WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Calgary FlamesShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 95 Deking, 95 Discipline, 93 Speed. Hedman's strong two-way game earned the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2017-18 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2019-20. John Klingberg wasted little time establishing himself among the NHL's scoring defensemen, tallying 40 points in 65 games in 2014-15. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. His stats with the Predators over the past five seasons back this up. The linchpin of the Washington Capitals defense corps, John Carlson's smooth skating and offensive skills make him an invaluable part of their scoring attack too. His balance and durability should keep him on the ice as he will rarely fall, which would increase the risk of injury. This perk will increase the player's Body Checking and Balance by 4 and 3 points. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. . Nevertheless, Hughes finished third, Entering his third NHL season, the 21-year-old should continue to shine as one of the league's best-scoring defensemen. A. limited him to 20 points in 35 games last season. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. That was the beginning of seven straight seasons with 40-plus points, including a career-high 65 during his Norris Trophy campaign. Adam Larsson, SEA39. The 24-year-old Flyers rearguard reached or exceeded 26 points in each of his five previous NHL campaigns. Cale Makar zooms onto the list with his 94 in agility and 93 in acceleration and speed, making him the fastest defenseman by speed score. Ranking the NHL's top defensemen: Why Victor Hedman is so far ahead of his peers, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Garber: MLS would be flexible for Messi move, Shiffrin, in fifth, gets 'big goal' with overall title, Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped, Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Inside the long-awaited return of Jon Jones and his quest for heavyweight glory, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Defensively, his awareness is only 69 while his shot blocking and stick checking are 72. It will also decrease the player's Off. The Golden Knights' patience in developing Theodore's game is paying off. Alex Pietrangelo, VGK33. (Photo: Danny Murphy / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Victor Hedman Tampa By Lightning. He became a key cog in their offensive attack last season, especially onthe power play. No defenseman has as many as Karlsson's 468 assists since he entered the league in 2009-10. In 20 I used a 59 186 Sniper so I could still pose a threat offensively and be big enough to knock most builds off the puck, this year it doesnt stand a chance Im curious to find a versatile build appreciate anyone who responds. One of two New Jersey players on this list, Okhotyuk gains the edge over Kevin Bahl who is rated higher overall thanks to the higher potential of the imposing Russian. Owen Power, BUF (rookie)36. His shot power for both is a 92 with his wrist shot accuracy edging his slap shot accuracy 93 to 90. Lightning. Crusher will allow theuser to make bigger bodychecks more often and stayon their feet more effectively. The former Stanley Cup champion had 20 assists and nine goals across 41 games during the 2020-2021 season. That's the first time he was below 40 points in a season since 2014-15. The 35-year-old Yandle sitsfourth overallamong defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. The seventh overall pick from 2018 has more than just speed. It feels different but the learning curve is pretty minimal. On Tuesday, the Oilers decided the answer was yes. Oilers get: Defenseman Mattias Ekholm (4 percent of salary retained by the Predators ), 2024 sixth-round pick. Unlike Burns and Karlsson, his point-per-game (0.83) over the. in power-play ice time per game (4:11) while finishing second with an average ice time per game of 24:19. Amid a breakout season with the Flyers 1 on 14 of the 20 ballots. It will also decrease the player's Wrist Shot Accuracy and Off. K'Andre Miller, D, NYR (suspended)32. The 31-year-old's point-per-game production (0.56) declined over the past two seasons to 29th among all rearguards as the Kings rebuilt with younger talent. While things like body checking and stick checking wellare both important for defensemen, the ability to successfully transition the puck up the ice can be just as effective in reducing shots and goals against. Ignore the fact that they used one of their three salary retention slots to absorb a whole 4 percent of Ekholms deal; they got out from under most of it, and good as Ekholm still is, he had zero functional value for a franchise that is moving into the next phase of his existence. The pairing usually consists of a skilled puck-mover and a shutdown blueliner. Eventually, the Oilers will get the injured Evander Kane back probably in about 10 days so their roster up front is probably deep enough, especially since playing 11 forwards and seven defensemen as often as they do just means more ice time for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 4 platypus_bear CGY - NHL 2 yr. ago NHL Hockey - Defensive Rankings & Statistics - March, 2023 These perks can be used to either round out weaknesses in a build or highlighta build's strengths. While injuries limited Matt Grzelcyk to 37 games last season, he wound up seeing more playing time with McAvoy than any other Bruins blueliner. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. The second version of this perk reduces the player's Passing and Puck Control accuracy by 3 and 4 points, and defensemen need accurate shots less than they'll need to make plays with the puck on their stick. He can improve his 76 in aggressiveness and body checking, and his 73 in endurance should be targeted quickly. He needs vast improvement in his senses and puck skills, and a bit more focus on his skating. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their respective primes, tomorrow isnt nearly as critical for the Oilers. Signed to a newsix-year contract, Hughes will be a significant contributor to the Canucks' offensive punch. During the 2019-20 season, he had 33 assists and 19 goals over 63 games. Foden's return to form helps mask De Bruyne's troubles. The first version of this perk will reduce the player's Passing and Body Checking by 4 and 3 points, and, while the first version reduces fewer attributes, they are the more important attributes for a defenseman. Look at who gets paired with Norris nominees. Its another trade where the outcome for Nashville will ultimately be determined by whether it can make those draft picks count. His aggressiveness is only an 81 and body checking is only an 80, but he does have good endurance (87), durability (85), and strength (84), helping to account for the lower ratings. Now, speed is not the only necessary skill a team needs, but it certainly helps bridge any gap or widen it for successful teams. Given the effectiveness of Pelech and Pulock as a shutdown blue-line tandem, however, don't be surprised if they're reunited at some point this season. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL23. Only 22, Makar possesses the speed and offensive skills of a more seasoned NHL veteran. Acquired from the Islanders last October, Toews meshed quickly with Makar. After missing all of the 2020-21 regular season recovering from surgery, Kucherov joined Tampa Bay for the playoffs and had 24 assists and eight goals over 23 games in another championship season. He trades a slight bit of speed for a little more agility. The 6'6", 230-pounder isn't a physical blueliner, but he uses his long reach to strip opposing players of the puck and his big strides to move the puck up the ice. He has also worked as a ghostwriter, but by definition, he can't prove it. Specialties will boost specific abilities in specific situations. Two more had him second. Drew Doughty, LAK22. Morgan Rielly, TOR27. The 24-year-old Werenski is a skilled and mobile blueliner, tallying 47 points as a rookie in 2016-17. And they did this by giving up a decent prospect in Reid Schafer plus a first- and a fourth-round draft choice. All Rights Reserved. The 29-year-old became the Dallas Stars' highest-scoring blueliner over the, with 327 career points and is ninth overall among. He became a key cog in their offensive attack last season, especially on. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Unlike Kukkonen, Montgomery is just 18. He led all blueliners in scoring last season, , Barrie's production should remain among the league's best. I wouldnt call his playmaking a major asset and his skating is just OK, but theres a lot of pieces in his game to become a middle-six powerful type of wing in the NHL. As a sophomore, he tallied 44 points in as many games,leading the clubin power-play ice time per game (4:11) while finishing second with an average ice time per game of 24:19. NHL.com ranks the top 50 fantasy hockey defensemen in standard leagues for the rest of the 2022-23 season. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.) Barrie might be flippable by the offseason, especially if they eat a bit of his $4.5 million AAV through next season. It's his offensive prowess, however, that draws the most attention. among NHL defensemen last season with 45 points. Crusher 1. Here's our ranking of the best defensive pairings for the 2021-22 season. As a sniper, if he has the puck, he will most likely accomplish his task, whether that be a pass or a shot. Roman Josi, NSH8. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Stick Checking, and Def. His defensive skills are good with an 85 in both shot blocking and stick checking and an 81 in awareness. If you're able to handle that ice time and still perform, or even get better as the game goes on, that's very important.". Playing a major role in those accomplishments was Victor Hedman, who. If you want to inject more speed and quickness to your team for more goal scoring opportunities, acquire some of these players for your franchise in NHL 22. Awareness by 4 and 3 points. The 6'2", 215-pounder logged a team-leading 22:26 of ice time per game last season, finishing second in blocked shots with 106 and fifth with 97 hits. Defensemen are relied upon to patrol the blue line where they'll likely be taking most of their shots, and slap shots are most effective from that range. With his size, speed, hockey smarts and booming shot, he remains among the NHL's top offensive rearguards. Whether its Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, the Rangers, the Devils theyre going to have to play someone from the Western Conference. 1 in that span, ahead of Zdeno Chara (+82). among Canucks regular-season scorers and third with 16 points in postseason scoring. It will also decrease the player's Agility by 3 points. Instead, his speed is lower at 92 while his agility is higher at 94, with acceleration at 93. His production from the blue line during the 2018 playoffs played a crucial role in their march to the 2018 Stanley Cup,netting 20 pointsin 24 games. The 27-year-old all-around rearguard led the club in time on ice per game (24:46); tied with Makar and Mikko Rantanen for most takeaways with 32; finished second in short-handed ice time per game (3:06) and blocked shots (87); and was third in scoring among Avs defensemen with a career-best 31 points. NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensive Defensemen A finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, Makar is among the NHL's elite mobile defensemen. His one area of focused improvement aside from faceoffs and fighting skill is his shot blocking, rated a 75. Keith, Chara, and (at least from what I remember then) Doughty could fill the shutdown description. For defensemen, they'll want their build to have perks that help them break up plays with their stick, make good hits, and make quick breakout passes out of their zone. Last season for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he had eight assists and six goals over 24 games. Eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July, Klingberg could earn a lucrative new contract with the Stars or another NHL club. 0.97 PPG. While his durability of 85 is fine, his other physical skills need improvement if he is going to make an impact. After Jamie Oleksiak's offseason departure to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, he also leads them in hits over that period with 134. Adam Fox, New York Rangers. He controls play in his own zone as a defensive stopper. His discipline and poise are 70 while his offensive awareness is 69. Since his debut in 2017-18, the 23-year-old McAvoy has steadily developed as the Bruins' top defenseman. He's fifth in total points (94) over thepast two seasonsand has yet to reach his playing prime. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.)4. The youngest player on this list by one year, Quinn Hughes is also only the second defenseman who scored at least a 93 in speed score. Age: 24Rating: 95Position: CenterType: PlaymakerTeam: Edmonton OilersShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 98 Offensive Awareness, 97 Hand-Eye, 97 Puck Control. "Hedman came in young. in 2020-21 with 42 assists while finishing second with 47 points. Josh Morrissey, WPG6. He maintains that Chrono Trigger is still the best game ever made, though the games hes played the most are Ogre Battle 64 and MLB The Show. Team: New York IslandersAge: 20Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.750M, 0 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 85 Balance, 85 Slap Shot Power, 85 Durability. His two-career game-winning goals came during the 2019-20 season when he had eight goals and 45 assists over 68 games, pitching in 14 assists and two goals over 17 playoff games in his only postseason experience. Best Defense NHL Teams Per Game 2023 | StatMuse He's their overall leader since 2016-17 in time on ice per game (24:09), short-handed ice time (2:48) and blocked shots with 722. Eric Duhatschek:It was only two years ago when the Nashville Predators Mattias Ekholm was at or near the top of everybodys trade board heading into the 2021 NHL trade deadline. Four were game-winning though none were in overtime. Awareness boost also helps the user pick up loose pucks after a blocked shot. Lindgren is also fourth at even-strength time per contest (17:16) and in blocked shots with 66. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, CAR, John Carlson, WSHZach Werenski, CBJ (out for season). Adam Fox New York Rangers. A defensive defenseman is your first step in establishing a top-line defense. Hes a fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Remember how that looked: Nashville was a borderline playoff team and Ekholm looked like one of the most-cost effective adds out there a player earning $3.75 million in the next-to-last year of a six-year, $22.5 million contract hed signed with the Predators, a deal that was proving to be a massive bargain. Team: New Jersey DevilsAge: 21Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.795M, 2 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 87 Slap Shot Power, 85 Balance, 85 Durability. Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, leading the Lightning to their Stanley Cup championship with 22 points in 25 games and 26 minutes, 28 seconds of average ice time. Do the elite have to do both well, or can one aspect compensate for the other? The first-round pick is the prize, and Schafer sounds like an interesting piece to have around, too. He's also the leader in power-play points (106) during that period. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice"podcast. The 23-year-old New York Rangers star took home the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, joining Hall of Famer Bobby Orr asthe only sophomoresto accomplish that feat. He can improve on defense, though his speed can help make up for some of his lower ratings. Paired together since 2019-20, they've swiftly emerged among the league's best blue-line tandems. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I've made the case that the Lightning defenseman could be the best all-around hockey player in the world. As for Nashville, the Predators have now traded three contributing players off the roster Nino Niederreiter to the Winnipeg Jets and Tanner Jeannot to the Tampa Bay Lightning harvesting mostly draft choices, two young players and Barrie. However, even with that poise, his faceoffs are only a 77. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below. His offensive awareness is a staggering 98, but he also has a 92 in defensive awareness. Miro Heiskanen, DAL16. Martin Fehervary just turned 26 on 6 October, but in NHL 22, he is still listed as 21, so he makes an appearance here. In just three seasons, the 22-year-old Heiskanen blossomed into the Stars' best all-around defenseman. On offense, Kuznetsov is a dangerous foe. With Binghamton in 27 games, he had four assists and one goal. CS Media Limited All Rights Reserved. This will allow them to be the best defenseman they can be without worry about taking penalties. Moritz Seider, DET26. This perk will increase the player's Slap Shot Accuracy and Slap Shot Power by 4 and 2 points. Team: Vancouver CanucksAge: 21Position: Right DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: RightContract: $0.860M, 2 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 85 Durability, 84 Slap Shot Power, 84 Wrist Shot Power. The East is an arms race, sure, but theres a whole other side of the playoff bracket. They have the best all-around defenseman in hockey in Victor Hedman, so that is always a big plus in giving your blue line an edge. Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, defense pairs, power-play usage, injury history or concern, age, contract status and overall upside for the rest of this season. Sometimes a duo that works well together can be split up to address weaknesses elsewhere on the blue line. After ranking the wingers last week, here are the positional rankings for defensemen for the 2020-21 season, according to those in the NHL we surveyed. Lidstrom retired in 2012, so he wasn't a voter in our survey. With Lukko last season, he had nine assists and a goal over 51 games, while the previous season, he had two assists over 19 games. That led to Miro Heiskanen becoming Lindell's partner. Your email address will not be published. NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensive Defensemen, NHL 22 Strategies: Complete Team Strategies Guide, Line Strategies & Best Team Strategies, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Young Players, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Free Agents to Sign, NHL 22: Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Centers. They cleared cap space and added a first-round pick to the haul they received for Jeannot. He led all blueliners in scoring last seasonwith 48 points. 4. Devon Toews, COL24. Getting help on the blue line and more specifically getting the right kind of help leaps the Oilers near the front of the Pacific Division line, where only a handful of points separate the top five teams. Miro Heiskanen is only 21-years-old but has already made a big impact in the NHL as an integral defenseman for the Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Final run in 2020. Where he does lack as evidenced by the sub-80 rating is in faceoffs, where he has a career 44.8 win percentage, though he won a career-high 49.53 in 2020-21. Here, you will find the fastest forwards and defensemen to add to your team. The first version will reduce the player's Strengthby 5 points instead of Balance, andStrength is more valuable to defensemen, as it willincrease the power ofnot only body checks, but also shots. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, becoming the only sophomore other than Hall of Famer Bobby Orr to take home that honor. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. The players chosen for this list are all 21 and younger and chosen based on the grade in potential. Flyers' Nick Seeler has emerged as a hot name in NHL trade His aggressiveness and body checking are both 80, and his durability an 82. Dougie Hamilton's offensive skills were apparent early in his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, exceeding 40 points for the first time in 2014-15. He has great offensive skills and instincts, but hes an undersized one-way defenseman who doesnt defend that well. WebThe best defence is a good offence. Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-oldsits sixthin pointsamong NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. Hampus Lindholm, BOS18. His replacement, Barry Trotz, is already in place and presumably providing input into what comes next for a franchise that for now anyway is in deep sell mode. Last season proved more difficult for Hughes and the Canucks as theymissed the playoffs,due in part to a slow start and a COVID-19 outbreak. (0.93) ranked second among defensemen with at least 100 games played. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, John Klingberg wasted little time establishing himself among the NHL's scoring defensemen, tallying 40 points in 65 games in 2014-15. His physical and skating skills are better, but not by much. For forwards, the search parameters were having a minimum of 91 in speed and acceleration with an 87 in agility.